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ellaOne switches from POM to P

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ellaOne switches from POM to P

The emergency hormonal contraceptive (EHC) ellaOne will be available through community pharmacies throughout the European Union without a prescription from next year, following a change in its medicines licence.

Currently, community pharmacies can only provide emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel, which can be effective up to three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. However, ellaOne, which contains ulipristal acetate, can work up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, although it is most effective when taken within 24 hours.

The licensing change was made following a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal products for Human Use (CHMP), which concluded that removing the need for a prescription would speed up women’s access to the medicine and therefore increase its effectiveness. In addition, research by CHMP found that ulipristal acetate has a similar safety profile to levonorgestrel-containing emergency contraceptives.

Commenting on the switch, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) president Ash Soni said: “This reclassification is a benefit to public health as it widens the options for women at risk of unplanned pregnancy whilst maintaining professional standards of provision. Pharmacists can also advise about a wide range of methods of regular contraception, which will always be more effective than emergency contraception tablets.”

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